Neptune's Fountain, Gdansk
N 54° 20.913 E 018° 39.196
34U E 347474 N 6024841
Neptune's Fountain - is a historic fountain in Gdansk constructed from 1606-1633.
Waymark Code: WMZEXK
Location: Pomorskie, Poland
Date Posted: 10/31/2018
Views: 17
Neptune's Fountain - is a historic fountain in Gdansk, which was constructed with the initiative of Mayor Bartlomiej Schachmann, and the local authorities. The fountain is located in the most notable part of Gdansk - Long Market, by the entrance to Artus Court.
History:
In 1549, by the entrance of Artus Court there was located a now unknown well, which may have had metal decorative pieces. The well was located slightly closer to the Motlawa.
The local authorities of Gdansk, together with Mayor Bartlomiej Schachmann wanted to raise a more notable monument. The first mason to receive an offer to complete the project was Jakub Kordes from Lubeka, but for unknown reasons his plan was not accepted. The new fountain was to be constructed at the centre of the facade of the Artus Court, from the Green Gate the fountain would be seen with the Gdansk Main Town Hall in the background, with the turn to the Long Lane. Neptune - the god of the sea - was to be placed facing the townhouses, which were the residence of the Polish kings, while at their stay in Gdansk, the mythological god was to have his head bow down to them. The fountain was to have underground pumps connecting the fountain to the Potok Siedlecki by Sienny Market; however, the pressure was too low.
Between 1606 and 1615, there were pending projects, sculpturing, and casting. The sculpture's project was made by Abraham van den Blocke (born 1572, died 1628), with the statue made by Flemish Piotr Husen. The sculpture was cast from bronze in 1615, in the town casting guild in Gdansk, by Gerdt Benning. The mass of the figure is 650 kilograms. The stem the figure is found on, is made from black tuff. The architectural features of the fountain relate to Flemish mannerism. The water installations were made by Ottomar von Wettner, with the water systems designed by Adam Wybe. The water tanks are located on the rooftop of the Gdansk Main Town Hall and Artus Court. Formerly, the fountain was only operational in some days of the year, up until the second half of the nineteenth-century, after which Gdansk had modernised its underground water system.
Formerly, the fountain was painted. The fountain was opened in October 9, 1633, the delay was caused due to numerous disruptions: the renovation of Artus Court; problems with the robustness of the water system; the Thirty Years' War; and the death of Abraham van den Blocke. The inauguration of the fountain's operation took place in March 23, 1634. Between the years of 1757 and 1761, Jan Karol Stender made new fragments of the fountain and stem, and meister blacksmith Jakub Barren had reconstructed and replaced the broken grate. This is when the fountain received its rococo architectural style.
In 1927, the fountain was renovated. The fountain was damaged during World War II, and moved to Parchów, located near Bytów; after World War II the tower was subsequently renovated and put back to operation in July 22, 1957. In 1988, as part of renovation works the fountain's genitals were covered with a fig leaf. A full renovation of the fountain occurred between September 2011 and April 2012.
Source: wikipedia.org
Style: Rococo
Type of building (structure): Baroque fountains
Date of origin:: 1633
Architect(s): Abraham van den Blocke
Web site of the object (if exists): [Web Link]
Address:
Neptune's Fountain
Długi Targ
80-833 Gdańsk
Poland
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Visit Instructions:
Logging requirements: Please upload your own personal photo of the structure. You or your GPS can be in the picture, but it’s not a requirement.